Keweenaw Report Your Source for Local News and Sports
Note: Keweenaw Report does not typically include the names of victims of sex crimes or victims of suicide in our coverage. In this case, the family of the victim has given consent, in an effort to help prevent future such tragedies.
Two Nigerian citizens have been extradited to the United States, where they will face charges that they ran a sexploitation ring that preyed on more than 100 U.S. citizens.
One of those citizens, 17-year-old Jordan DeMay of Marquette, committed suicide in March, 2022, allegedly under pressure from one of the ringleaders.
At a press conference Sunday, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Mark Totten said that 22-year-old Samuel Ogoshi and 20-year-old Samson Ogoshi, both of Lagos, have arrived in the United States, and will be housed at a holding facility in Newaygo County.
Totten said that Samuel Ogoshi posed as a young women on a fraudulent Instagram account to entice DeMay into sending a sexually explicit photo…
Sameul Ogashi faces one count of Sexual Exploitation and Attempted Sexual Exploitation of a Minor Resulting in Death. The charge carries a maximum penalty of life in prison and a statutory mandatory minimum of 30 years in prison. Both Ogashis are charged with:
- Conspiracy to Sexually Exploit Minors by causing the minors to produce child pornographic images that the defendants then used to blackmail the minors, with a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison and a mandatory minimum of 15 years in prison;
- Conspiracy to Distribute Child Pornography for sending the child pornography images to the minors, as well as their families and friends. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison.
- Conspiracy to Commit Stalking Through the Internet for engaging in this sextortion scheme as it relates to both minors and young adults. The charge has a maximum penalty of five years in prison.
The extradition of a third defendant, Ezekial Ejehem Robert, is still pending. In addition, three other Nigerians are facing criminal charges in their home country.
Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Michigan Devin J. Kowalski thanked Nigerian officials for their cooperation in the investigation…
He also commended the staff of the FBI office in Marquette for their efforts in moving the case forward.
Both Ogashis are scheduled to be arraigned Monday.
